places in his pontificate where he has clashed with cardinals and the load gins about just how far he can push the church to change, what the church can change without undercutting its own traditions or breaking faith with the new testament, the gospels of jesus christ. night at 8:00 eastern on c-span. pence wasesident mike a keynote speaker at the faith and freedom coalition patriots gala in washington, d.c. his remarks are just over 45 minutes.

[applause] vice pres. pence: thank you all. it is great to be back at faith and freedom, where the road to majority begins. [applause] thank you for that warm welcome. i want to thank ralph reed for that kind introduction, but i also want to thank him for playing such a pivotal role for many years, and marshaling a movement that has made such a difference in the life of our nation. would you join me in showing your appreciation for ralph reed and his family and all he has done, for this cause, this movement and first this

country? [applause] vice pres. pence: it is an honor to be back at the faith and freedom coalition's patriots gala. last year, i had the privilege to speak to this incredible room, and i know you have had a great week. but i also know, the last year, you heard from a friend of mine. when i spoke to him earlier today, he was on air force one, and he wanted me to say hello. so i will begin tonight by bringing greetings from a leader who has been delivering every day on his promise to protect faith and restore freedom all across america, the 45th president of the united states of america, president donald

trump. [applause] as you are all aware, the president spent the last 2 days at the g7 summit in canada, putting america first. now, the eyes of the world are on our president,herals to singapore for a historic summit between the united states and north korea. what the president calls "a mission of peace." after years of failed policy, the president took a strong stand with our allies, to bring unprecedented economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on the regime in pyongyang. after month of steadfast american leadership, strong words and actions, things began to change. north korea participated in the

olympics and held a groundbreaking summit with south korea. they suspended all nuclear and ballistic missile testing with no concessions from the u.s. and north korea released three american hostages who arrived home just a few weeks ago. [applause] now comes a historic summit between the president of the united states and chairman kim of north korea. as presidents -- as president trump said this week, he approaches this summit with confidence. the truth is, he has been preparing for this his whole life. the president truly believes that kim jong-un in the president's words wants to do something great for his people. but as the president often says, we will see what happens. but rest assured, our president is going into this summit with his eyes wide open.

and as he said early today, he will know in the first minute, if they are serious and if they are not, we will not waste their time or ours. we will not repeat. the mistakes of the past. [applause] as president trump embarks on this historic quest for peace, i ensure -- i can assure you that he also goes with the family of otto warmbier on his heart. i spoke to otto's father

today and told him of how the president spoke of their son and the rose garden this week. describing him in his words, as a brilliant, beautiful and terrific young man. and so he was. and in the words of the otto warmbier's faith and tradition, may his memory be a blessing. today, i assured his father as the president said two days ago, their beloved son, otto warmbier, will not have died in vain. [applause] as the president makes his way across thet pacific, i know that he goes with all of our hopes and our support. but i want to say to all those gathered here, make sure he also goes with your prayers. when i told the president this morning, that i knew that people across the country were praying for him, he responded quietly, saying i know. i know. as the president and i both know, while strong american leadership has accomplished much, the effective and fervent prayers of a righteous people can of a less

availeth much more. [applause] vice pres. pence: so america, let us pray for our president. and let's pray for peace for the korean people, and the world. [applause] it really is great to be back. great to be back at this ninth annual road to majority conference. the largest pro-faith, profamily, pro-freedom gathering in the united states of america! [applause] and i am here tonight to pay a debt of gratitude to each and every one of you, for the unwavering support and the prayers of all the members of

the faith and freedom coalition. last year, the president and i -- both thanked you and all of your 1.8 million members for the remarkable victory you helped to deliver in 2016. i am here on his behalf to say thank you as well for standing with us and helping to advance an agenda that is making america great again! we are doing it! because of your support. [applause] we just marked the 500th day since the president and i took office, just a few short days ago. i have to tell you, those 500 plus days have been days of action and accomplishment. it has been 500 days of promises made and promises kept. [applause]

but you know, i am also here for another reason. we have more work to do. we need the faith and freedom coalition to go forward from here today for another victory. we made history in 2016, and we need to make history again, when we reelect republican majorities to the house and senate in 2018! [applause]

the truth is, this terminated election as unlike any other since the founding of this coalition. for the first time in the history of this movement, you are fighting to defend the faith and freedom congress, and defend the faith and freedom president, and you are fighting to protect the historic progress that has been made since president donald trump entered the white house. [applause] i mean, think about it. after eight years of the obama nightmare, president trump has renewed the american dream. after eight years of a static economy, stagnant wages and being told that no growth is the new normal, this president has

-- kickstarted a great american come back. after eight years of retreat, america's advancing because president donald trump has restored american strength at home and abroad. [applause] this is what we have done together. we are rebuilding our military, restoring the arsenal of democracy and once again, finally giving our soldiers, airmen, marines and close guard, their resources and training and support they need to accomplish their mission and come home safe. this year, president trump signed a law which was the largest investment in the armed forces since the days of ronald reagan's. -- reagan.

[applause] and we are not just standing with those in uniform, we are standing with those who wore the uniform of the united states. standing up with our veterans. just this week, the president took the latest action to give our nation's heroes access to world-class real-time health care that they earned, in the uniform of the united states. we will make sure the v.a. works for every veteran in real time, the way it should. [applause] with your support, we have been enforcing our laws and securing our borders. president trump signed the biggest funding in border security in nearly 10 years, and we secured $1.6 billion in funding to start holding a border wall on the southern border of the united states. and on the world stage, it has been america's strength as well. president donald trump has stood without apology as leader of the free world. you saw that at the g7 summit the last two days. the truth is, america is once again standing

with our allies and standing up to our enemies. this president for instance, he promised to take the fight of against radical islamic terrorism on our terms, on their soil. thanks to the leadership of our commander in chief, i am proud to report isis is on the run, their caliphate has crumbled, and we are on the verge of driving isis from the face of the earth! [applause] "usa"]anting vice pres. pence: god bless our troops. this president stood up to the leading state sponsor of terrorism when he withdrew the united states of america from

the disastrous iran nuclear deal and said -- no more. [applause] this president also stood with our most cherished ally. unlike other presidents of succeeding administrations, who made similar promises, president donald trump cap his word when last month, we opened the united states embassy in a jerusalem, the capital of the state of israel! [applause] -- -- capital of the state of israel. [applause]

we are restoring american strength at home and abroad. this president knows our nations strength comes from our freedom, and the foundation of faith in this nation. that's why president trump has always and will always defend the god-given liberties enshrined in the constitution of the united states of america. he has appointed strong conservatives through our federal courts at every level. last year, this president and our administration, with strong support of republican majority, set a record for the most court of appeals judges confirmed to our federal courts in a single year in american history. that doesn't even count justice neil gorsuch on the supreme court of the united states. [applause] the president has also taken bold action to protect religious liberty and the conscious rights

of every american. whether their patients, health care providers, employers, or anyone else. in this white house, the little sisters of the poor will always win. [applause] last year, the president chose a national day of prayer to announce new policies to protect the right of every american to live out their beliefs in the public square. last month on the same day, he created a new faith initiative that will give faith-based organizations an official voice at the highest levels of american government. last year also, at the president's direction, it was my privilege to announce the u.s. would stop funding ineffective relief efforts at the united nations and we would begin providing support directly to christian and persecuted faith

communities across the middle east through usaid. [applause] we made some progress in the first seven months across our administration. we have already devoted $110 million to this effort, but there is much more work to be done, and we are about that work. to implement the president's directive, yesterday i ordered the usaid administrator to travel to iraq immediately and present us with a comprehensive assessment on the best means to deliver and devastatedto rebuild christian communities across the

middle east. we will give our fellow christians and persecuted communities across the region the resources and support they need to recover, rebuild, and flourish in their ancient homeland once again. [applause] finally, when it comes to our values, i couldn't be more proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with a president who stands without apology to the sanctity of human life. [applause] from the first week of this administration, president trump has kept his word to stand for life. we reinstated and expanded the mexico city policy, we empowered states to defund, planned parenthood thanks to the president's leadership, we put forward a new rule to prevent title x funding from going to any organization that provides abortion in america. [applause]

the record of 500 plus days, president trump is already the most pro-life president in american history. [applause] it has been about our values, it has been about america standing strong and securing the world. with this president, he has also taken action to divide the american economy. from early on, we have been rolling back red tape at a record pace. i remember in the campaign days the president made a promise. he said if he was elected to the

white house, we would repeal two federal regulations for everyone new federal rule put on the books. we haven't exactly done that. president trump, with the strong support of conservative majorities in the house and senate, has repealed 22 federal regulations for every new rule put on the books. [applause] he has repealed more federal red tape than any president in american history. he has also released american energy, transformed the u.s. into an energy superpower. he approved the keystone and dakota pipelines, he overcame 40 years of democrat obstructions to open andwar to responsible energy development. he put america first when he withdrew the u.s. from the job killing paris climate accord. [applause] that's what we call putting american energy first.

we have also fought to restore freedom and affordability at the heart of american health care. i couldn't be more proud. i have stood with the president when he revealed the core of obamacare, the individual mandate is gone. [applause] we all remember nearly six months ago, again with the strong support of republican majorities in the house and senate, president trump kept his word of the american people again when he cut taxes across the board for working families, small businesses, large businesses, job creators. he signed into law the largest tax cuts and tax reform and

in american history. he got it done right before christmas. [applause] thanks to the president's leadership the failed obama economy is over and the trump economy has arrived. [applause] i'm sure you have heard about it, but i love talking about it. since election day, businesses have created more than 3.4 million new jobs. the unemployment rate in america has not been this low for nearly 50 years. the unemployment rate for hispanic americans and african americans has never been lower. [applause] we are setting records. for the first time on record,

there are more job openings in america than there are jobseekers. the news is so good, even the new york times acknowledged it. this would be the first time i have quoted the new york times. they wrote "we ran out of words to describe how good the job numbers really are." [applause] it is true. under president trump's leadership, jobs are back, optimism is back, in a word, america is back. we are just getting started. [applause]

that's what we have all done together, men and women. we are strong partners on capitol hill. a lot of great leaders you have heard from at this gathering in washington, d.c., it is what we have done together. it is making a real difference in the lives of everyday americans. since our tax cuts in the past six months, companies have announced more than $500 billion in new investments in american jobs, american workers, and america's future. more than 5.5 million americans have already seen a pay raise, or better benefits, or have gotten a tax cut bonus. the remarkable thing is these tax cuts haven't even fully taken effect. some people heard about the tax cut bonuses at the end of last year. $1000 in the pockets of americans that people were not expecting to see.

i thought that was kind of a big deal. not everybody agrees. i don't know if you heard about it. [laughter] the person who wants to be speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, she actually said that a $1000 bonus in the pockets of working americans at the end of last year was nothing more than crumbs. let me remind all of you, i come from the joseph a banks wing of the west wing of the white house. when our kids were little, we had a term for another thousand dollars in my paycheck that we were not expecting, christmas. [laughter] [applause]

anybody with me on that? [applause] my wife and i have always lived on a budget, still do today. the truth is, i want to say from my heart, anyone who says $1000 in the pockets of working families is crumbs is out of touch with the american people and should never lead the american congress again. [applause] i came here to tell you about what we have all accomplished together, but also to express the gratitude president trump and i feel to the great conservative republicans in the house and senate and congress. these people you have been

hearing from and been supporting in elections over the years. much of what we have been able to accomplish would not have been possible without the strong partnership of republican majorities in the house and senate. they stood with us shoulder to shoulder to rebuild our military, to cut taxes, to rollback regulations, to protect the unborn, and confirm conservative judges to our courts who are transforming our judiciary. this congress deserves your thanks, and this republican congress deserves your support for reelection in 2018. [applause] the president and i have traveled all over the country. we have already been making great progress this year.

men and women stepping forward for reelection and election. we need all of us to be in this fight together. the truth is, we all know how important republican congress is. how important it has been for this administration to advance president trump's agenda. the truth is, the democrats know how important majorities are, as well. the party of nancy pelosi and chuck schumer have been watching us dismantle a lot of the liberal legacy of the last administration. they have been working their hearts out to turn back what the president and all of us have accomplished with this congress. i get the impression they thought they were entitled to another eight years. eight years of progressive dominance, but instead, they woke up one morning to find out that donald trump was president of the u.s. [applause]

the passion we see on the other side, i think a lot of democrats see this election as a do over. they have been waiting for it, they have been organized, and raising money. they have been working since around 3:00 a.m. on november 9, 2016. they are hard at it, so must we be. you don't have to wonder what would happen if nancy pelosi became speaker of the house again. i was there the last time it happened. i know what i'm talking about. when the democrats ran congress, they nearly ran america into the ground. they didn't cut taxes, they raised taxes. they cut the military to pass the obamacare nightmare, trying to push on the american people. truthfully, during the obama administration, the average rate

of growth in the strongest economy of the history of the world was 1.8% for eight years. the truth is, the last time they were in charge, they may governments stronger, and the economy weaker. by the time they were done, millions of americans had all but lost hope that their children had a shot at a brighter future in the life they lived. it was a record failure. let's be honest, the democrats have only gotten worse and more extreme since the last time they were in charge. as the saying goes, this is not your parent's democratic party anymore, if you haven't noticed. bernie sanders, the man i served with in congress, nearly won the democratic nomination for the presidency in 2016.

last month, four outright socialists won democratic primaries in pennsylvania. you have nancy pelosi, who actually criticized the president for calling vicious members of the ms 13 gang animals. democrats these days have actually opposed several of the president's nominees to our federal courts simply because of the christian faith. one member of the senate actually questioned the catholic convictions of a highly qualified nominee to our federal court of appeals saying that her "dogma lives loudly within her." these to say abortion was free. -- safe, legal, and rare.

now the left has a slogan, that they want you to shout your abortion. their so-called comedians joke about it and want the american taxpayer to pay for it. make no mistake about what is at stake this november. this election is a choice. it is a choice between resistance and renewal. it is a choice between obstruction and optimism. it is a choice between an america of failed ideas and faltering will, or an america of faith, freedom, and renewed greatness. i know america will make the right choice again. [applause] built on faith, freedom, and making america great again. [applause]

it is going to take all of us to make that a reality. that's why you are here, some of you traveled long distances to be here. some are watching this online. on behalf of president trump, i want to say of the men and women of the faith and freedom coalition here and around the country, it is time we got to work. it is time we continue the work that brought about the great victories in congress and the white house. the great progress we have made in this agenda. we just have to decide that we

are going to do it again. we just have to decide that this is going to be the day that we pledge to deliver another historic victory for the american people. let this be the day that we decided to beat back the blue wave with a red tide of conservative support across america. [applause] let this be the day. [applause] as i said, i will always be grateful for your work in 2016. i look forward to seeing you in 2020, as well. [applause] but right now, the president and i need you to be focused. you are in this conference with

even more energy and enthusiasm than ever before. bring your voices, values, and your hard work to these midterm elections of 2018, because they matter. don't grow weary, the president has a theory about these midterm elec the truth is, for the party in office in the white house, the first midterm election can be challenging. history proves that out. the conventional wisdom says we are going to have a challenging year as a party. but i think we all know what president donald trump thinks of conventional wisdom. [laughter] we made history in 2016, and with your support, we are going to make history in 2018 again when we turn the historic trend on its ears. [applause] don't grow weary. don't rest on your challenges

right now. keep showing up, keep speaking out. just go tell the story of american renewal that is happening. go tell people we cut their taxes. go tell them what is happening with the appointment to conservatives in the strong support of these majorities in the u.s. senate. tell them how this is a president that has america standing tall on the world stage again with renewed american strength. just go tell them everything that they are not hearing about on most of their local cable television stations. talk to your neighbors and friends, get involved and spread the word. we have a great story to tell.

continue to bring your deepest convictions everywhere you go, impacting hearts and minds. this is a movement that is changing america. strengthening america. but it is a movement that has come from america, not from washington, d.c. i have to say, with your tireless work and support from this day through election day, i know we will defend and even expand our republican majorities in congress. we will build on this record of historic accomplishments. for all we have accomplished in these 500 plus days, that's what president trump calls a good start. while we're at it, we will lay a foundation for 2020 when we reelect president donald trump for four more years. [applause]

i believe it. i know we will do this, because i have faith, like all of you gathered here. i have faith in each and every one of you, and the boundless capacity of the american people to set the ship right again. i have faith in the leaders we have elected at every level. i know these men and women, we have worked closely in these majorities, congress, the house, and senate. i know that they deserve your support. i have faith in our president, my friend, whose strong leadership has been delivering real results at home and abroad.

he is the right man at the right time in the life of this nation. i couldn't be more honored to be vice president to president donald trump. [applause] when i saw the impact of that leadership at three in the morning a few weeks back, i mentioned earlier, and i will close with it. we watched that blue and white plane pull up on the tarmac of andrews air force base carrying three americans who had been held hostage in a foreign land. as they stepped out of the plane, flanked by the president and first lady, who had gone up to greet them, you could see the joy in their faces. but i didn't expect to happen what happened when they got to the base of the stairs.

as they approached me and the secretary of state, and my wife, they embraced us. they grabbed our hands and talked about faith. one of the men stepped off and handed me a handwritten card. i found it later he handed one to the president on the plane, and our new secretary of state, as well. on one side was penned psalm 126 one through three. when the lord brought back the captives, we were like men who dreamed. our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. the lord has done great things for them.

the lord has done great things. on the back, i saw a note. very similar to what they had written to the president. "dear mr. vice president pence, we praise the lord, who has done great things for america and for us. we deeply appreciate your prayers and the u.s. government bringing us home. god bless great america, and god bless our great leaders. signed kim, tony, and jim." these moments are happening in the life of our nation. we have a president standing

strong in the oval office. the world is respecting america again. the results on that night, and on every day we reflect on over these last 500 days, is a result of his leadership and the strong support of the men and women that you have elected into congress to partner with this president at such a time as this. that's why i have that faith. faith in all of you, faith in our ideals, faith in this president, and in these leaders. the progress we have made that we have just begun. of course, i have the other kind of faith, i cling to those

ancient words that americans have clung to in much more challenging times than these. words of promise. from the good book that stated this generation, as they have hundreds of generations and people around the world before, i know the plans i have for you. plans to prosper you and not to harm you. plans to give you hope in the future. with faith in all of you, in our ideals, with faith in our president and these great leaders in congress and faith in him who promises a hope and future. i know the best days for america are yet to come. thank you. god bless you.

let's get back to work. [applause] ♪

[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2018] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] on newsmakers, jim jordan. sen. kaine: hey, everybody, i'm tim kaine, senator from virginia. i wanted to talk about an issue that is critically important to every american, health care. and to share some good news and bad news. you deserve the peace of mind that if you or a loved one gets sick, you can get health care when you needed without facing mountains of debt. because health care is a right, no something reserved for just those who can afford it. that is why consistently push for reforms to expand access to quality affordable care. the affordable care act helped